1. Complete Dribble
Definitely one of the best new advances in this year's game, and dribbling is a particularly fine point of the gameplay experience, which is clearly part of EA Sports' grand plan to introduce more authentic direct play, as opposed to the occasionally infuriating flair play that was possible in FIFA 12. It is now a lot easier to beat defenders realistically, even when they move to contain your man, and the lost art of dribbling has come back into the game, just as it is enjoying a resurgence in the real game of football. Dribbling has become a whole lot easier and a lot more fluid, and the whole system feels less complex, governed by left stick dribble, Complete Dribble (LT and RT) and Precision Dribble (LB). You can see the work done for FIFA Street ported into the game, and the dribble system is vastly improved as a result of it. While the new Precision Dribble system is good, and makes tight contact with defenders easier to evade, it is the more eye-catching Complete Dribble that really stands out, and makes attacking a lot more enjoyable, particularly when you're in control of someone like David Silva who has a full gambit of skills. It's a different matter entirely when the players aren't quite so accomplished, but that will at least stick with EA Sports' agenda of realism. The new dribbling systems have also completely changed what is needed to defend against them, and flying in to sliding tackles willy-nilly just isn't an option against accomplished dribblers, as you'll merely find yourself on your backside watching your opponent waltz past you. This, after all is not arcade play, and intelligence and staying on your feet are the twin pillars of real defending, so it's appropriate to see them pushed to the forefront here by the attacking and dribbling systems. So there you have it - a more concise break-down and review of the new features of FIFA 13, as tested out in the demo. The single greatest thing you can say about the gameplay is that it feels exciting and fresh again, and football has arguably never felt this real or this fluid before. Mighty fine work from all involved. FIFA 13 is available to buy on 28th September. You can follow all of our coverage by heading over to our
dedicated FIFA 13 hub-page.